Paint brush



JUIYZ, 1940. c. THOMAS 2,206,208

PAINT BRUSH July 2, 1940. C. THOMAS 2,206,208

FiledxApril 1l. 1938 v2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIS-'E15 II'NIIMN'H Fig-Q l I l l I i i i l l l I I i 'ri-i g il z I. g i *F*ll:s i z l m I l l Z4' ,72, n', I Z2 Aes "surfaces, which brush upon actuation Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT o FFicE P'Am'r niwsn Claud Thomas, Portland,

hall' to Henry C, Olsen,

` Application Apron, 19

Oreg., assignmof one- San Francisco, Calif.

38, Serial No. 201,339

t This inventionirelates to a painting brush and provision painting thereof in anormal manner, causes a predetermined of `anlimproved brush and method for vamount of paintto flow to the outer ends of `the bristles irrespective of whether the brush fis positioned "with, the bristle ends directednpwardly, laterally or downwardly, and which brush t is simple,` economical to make and use. `Other objects are the provision of improved means for t `causing auniforin `distribution of` .paint tothe I may be desired. `Other ,will` appean in` las" t annexed` hereto. t

painting ends ofl the "bristles and an improved construction that enables a ready` replacement or interchange of bristles and other parts, as objects and .advantages I,the drawings and `description In the drawings, Fig, `111s an elevational view' of my improyedfbrush with a tank and connect- 1, t ing pipe semi-diagrammatically illustrated, and

, withthe brush partly in section `to illustrate4 its construction, 1 t

t Fig. 2 is a sectional `view taken along the line 1, the brush handle being `broken `in length. I i t t Fig.. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line Fig.v 4 is an elevational viewof a modied form ofl brush, partly in section and with the handle broken in length.

`Fig.,5 is a sectional view of Fig. 4 taken along V the une `5 5 thereof.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3,1the form `of theinvention thereinillustrated comprises a handle I, externally in the shape of the handle of an ordinarypainters brush,` which handle carries l the bristles 2 `by a special flexible connection,

generally designated` 3, disposed between the bristles and handle. i

t The connection 3 comprises an elongated plate extending along and secured by screws 5 `to the crosshead 6 of the handle, said plate being formed with a continuous flanged adjacent the `edges thereof extending outwardly` of the plate `in direction away from `the handle thereby providing an `outwardly opening recess 8 enclosed l atits sides by the `flange and by plate` I at the `closed side. A plate 9 extends over the open side of the" recess 8, which plate 9 is formed adjacent its edges with a continuous flange III projecting toward and following the contour of' flange 1, thusproviding an open sided recess II l similar to recess 8, but' opening toward the open sideof the latter recess. 1,

position material 1 nects said portions fairly 9 is limited by the A iiexibie bellows I2 connects between the plates 4, 9, which bellows maybe of anysuitable flexible material such as leather, rubber, or comrelatively impervious to the passage of air and paint. The opposite ends of 5 the bellows adjacent the opposite free edges enclose the flangesl, I and are secured against the outer sides of the flanges lby metal strips 1I9, I4, the strips I3 being secured by screws, as indicated, to flange 1, and strips I4 being similo larly secured to flange Ill, whereby the ends 0f the bellows are securely clamped `against the flanges. Along one of the correspondingly dis-` posed elongated portions `of flanges "I,` I0 the bellows side is substantially straight andx conl close together, but the` opposite end sides of the bellows `progressively Vwiden toward the side of the bellows opposite the aforesaid straight side. Said kend sides'and Opposite Side are formed to .double on them-Q20 selves inwardly toward the central longitudinal .axisof the brush upon oscillating plate 9aboutl an axis extending longitudinally through the 1 straight side of the bellows, which oscillation is 4permitted by reason `straight side `where of the flexibility of the it extends across between the ilanges and the degree of oscillation of plate 1 1 width of the bellows along the folding side thereof as is apparent from Fig. t 2, and which oscillation is to one side only of the longitudinal axis of the brush. t

Opposite flange I0, the plate 9 is formed at its ends with end members I5 projecting oppositely of theflange toward the outer end of the brush, and plate 9 is centrally formed with a 35 passageway I6 extending through an externally threaded boss I l projecting in the same directionas members I5. `A cylindrical capIB threadedly` engages the threads on boss I'l, the head of which cap is spaced over and extends across the outer end of the boss and is provided with a `central aperture I9 disposed'in axial alignment with passageway 6. Around the aperture I9, the head of the cap is extended to form an externally tapered nozzle 20. l

The bristles I of the brush are secured at their inner ends in` an elongated block 2| that is centrally formed with a slot extending longitudinally thereof, which slotis tted with an insert 22.`

The insert 22 clamps between its side edges and 50 l `spaced from the outer end of the body of bristles above said insert where the walls of the conduit comeh substantially together, said conduit walls are secured together along spaced lines 26 (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1), extending parallel with the bristles of the brush, therebyv l forming a row of small ducts 21 leading from I chamber 25 to adjacent the outer ends of the through passageway 3i that is adapted at one and the sides of the end of the `passageway 3i bristles. The ducts at opposite sides of the central duct of the row may progressively be increased in diameter for a vpurpose later described.

The brush assembly outwardly of plate 9, which includes the bristles, insert 22 and block 2i are removablysupported on plate 9 by a strip 28 of sheet metal extending around the block I5r to which it is secured by-any desirable means, such as nails 29, and which strip extends outwardly of said block at one side to form a socket adapted to slide over the end members I5 on plate 9 and to enclose the area between the insert 22 and plate 9. Screws 30 removably secure said strip to said members I5 thus rigidly securing the bristle carrying part of the brush to the plate 9. 1

The insert 22 is centrally formed with a end to seat closely against the tapered outer sides of the projecting portion 20 around the passageway I9 'that extends through the head of cap I8,

" `opening into chamber 25 is outwardly flared.

Within the passageway I6 through boss I1, and atl the end of said passageway adjacent the end opening into recess II, isa spider 33 centrally formed with a threaded opening for= threadedly supporting therein one end of a screw 34, which screw extends outwardly of the opposite open end of said passageway I6 at its opposite end. The said opposite end of the screw supports a circular flexible disk valve 35, the outer margin of which disk normally engages the outer edges of the boss around said passageway I6.

'Ihe disk 35 is clamped betweennuts threaded on screw 34, and thus is adjustable along said screw so as to varythe tension `oi? the disk against the boss.

Plate 4 is formed with acentral opening therein from which opening a pipe 36 extends through handle I out of the end of the handle, said pipe 36 being preferably formed integrally with the plate 4 or at least rigidly secured thereto. To the outer end of pipe 36 is secured one end of a 'flexible hose 31 that connects with a valve 38 on an outlet pipe 39 in the bottom of a paint supply tank 40. The supply tank 40 is portable and is provided with hooks 4I for suspending the tank from a strap 42 that is adapted to be strapped to the body of the operator.

At the point of theopening of pipe 36 into the recess 8 a valve 35 'is provided, similar in construction to'valve 35 and supported in the same manner on a screw 34' supplied on a spider 33', the margin of the opening covered by the valve being slightly recessed tc receive the valve.

In the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, the principal difference in construction is in the connection between the handle and bristle supporting portion of the brush.

The handle I' carries a plate 4' and pipe 36' in the same manner as in the previously described device, in which the disk valve 35" is carried by a spider 33" positioned in the pipe 36', the valve closing against the end of the cen- 5 tral aperture opening into recess 8'.

Flanges 1' on plate 4' support against their free outer edges the `margins of a flexible diaphragm 44, said margin being secured thereto by strips 4, 5. y

Said diaphragm is centrally apertured to pass the end of an annular shoulder 41 formed around a central passageway I6 in a plate 9' which, plate isdisposed similar to the plate 9 of Fig. l. The marginsof diaphragm 44 around said cenl5 trai aperture therethrough are secured around shoulder 4'.` by a clamping nut 48 threaded onto said shoulder.

On the opposite side of plate 9' from the shoulder 41 is a boss I1', cap I8', and valve 35"' 20 therein, identical in construction with the construction of the corresponding element shown and stantially the same as in Figs. 1 to 3, and similar 30 parts are similarly numbered, except for bearing prime marks.

In'the operation of the device of Figs. lato 3,` when the container 40 is filled with' paint, andv l the valve 38 is opened, a through passageway for 35 l the paint is provided through hose 31 and pipe? 36 to communicating recesses 8, II, the walls of'v which recesses in combination with the bellows form an expansible chamber between plates 4, 9.

Upon working the brush bristles back' and forth 40 over the surface to be painted, the bellows en closed chamber alternately expands and contracts by reason of oscillation of plate 9. With each expansion, the valve 35 closes and the paint is drawn into said chamber and with each con- 45 traction the paint is forced past valve 35 into chamber 25 and from said chamber through ducts .21 for discharge therefrom to the bristles adjacent the outer ends of the latter. Since the ducts 21v are flattened in cross-section in the 50 plane of the brush, they will necessarily tend to assume a circular cross-sectional form as the paint passes threthrough, but their tendency to resume a flattened shape together with the flexing of the conduits with the flexing of the bristles, 55 will act to facilitate the evenand uniform extrusion of the paint to the bristles at their outer ends. The plurality of ducts 21 functions to prevent the tendency of the paint to accumulate ina large quantity at one edge of the' brush when 60 the brush is held in laterally extending position ,for lateral movement thereof in painting. Such tendency is, of course, not present when the brush is held vertically for painting a floor or ceiling.

The amount of paint delivered to thebris'itles 65 is regulated by regulation of valve 38, andvalve 35, or by either, butthe adjustment' of the latter vvalve is for more accurateregulation than the l paint, such as in the tank 40. orin a compresvw.. ci.,

said body opening at jacent the paint distributing ends ofthe bristles, an enlarged chamber "posite end of said duct and passageway for passible handle, to cause said delivery. Thus the control of the paint, once the proper adjustment is made, is entirely automatic, and when actuation of the brush stops the delivery stops irrespective of pressure or release by the handle grasping ngers or hand of the operator. Likewise the delivery is independent of any pressure of the handle grasping hand or iingers of the operator.

In the device of Figs. 4, 5, same. The diaphragm 44 is the action isthe preferably slightly `elastic so as to permit the expansion and conl traction of the chamber between the same and the side of plate 4', and the flexibility of disk valves 35, 35 (Fig. 1) or valves 35", 35 (Fig. 4) maybe increased or decreased `by a `reinforcement, such as a thin metal or ber washer, as is common in valves of this charactenalthough the disk itself may be thickened toward the center to provide such result, if found desirable.

Having described my 1. A` painting brush body of bristles on the invention, I claim: comprising `a handle, a handle,4 a passageway extending through said handle and opening at one end into said body of bristles, a portion of said `passageway being enlarged with one of the walls of said portion being flexible, hinge means swingingly mounting adjacent said one of the walls arranged `and adapted to permit swinging of said body relative to said handle and to cause distortion of said `one of the walls upon said swinging to thereby enlarge andrestrict the area of said portion whereby pressure will be transmitted to the paint in said portion for `forcibly urging said paint outwardly of the passagewa 2. A painting brush comprising arigid handle, a body of paint distributing bristles, a passageway extending through said handle, a duct in one end into the body adconnecting betweenthe opsage of paint from the passageway throughsaid `chamber to said duct, means hingedly connecting` said body and handle for permitting oscillation of the body relative to the handle upon reciprocation of the body against the surfaceto be painted, and one of the walls of said cham- `duct and out of the said body on said handle handle for oscillation of the ber being responsive to oscillation of said body for movement thereof to contract and enlarge the area of said chamber upon opposite movement of the body during reciprocation thereof whereby paint Within the chamber will be forced into said duct upon contraction of the area and a check valve positioned to stop movement of the paint into said passageway upon contraction of the area of said chamber.

3. A painting brush comprising a rigid handle, a body of paint distributing bristles, a passageway for paint extending through said handle open at one end adjacent the body, a duct in said body opening at one end into the body adjacent the paint distributing ends ofthe bristles and open at the opposite end at a point adjacent said open end of the passageway, a bellows device connecting between said body and handle and forming a communicating passage for paint between said opposite open end of the duct and said open end of the said passageway, and hingedly mounting said body on the handle for actuation of the bellows to force paint therein through said same into said body of bristles, and a source of paint supply connected to said passageway for passage of paint therethrough and into said bellows device. i

4. A painting brush comprising a rigid handle, a body of paint distributing bristles, a passageway for paint extending through said handle open at one end adjacent the said body, a duct in said body opening at one end into the body adjacent the paint distributing ends of the bristles and open at the opposite end at a point adjacent the said open end of the passageway. hinge means connecting said body with said body relative to said handle, a iiexible diaphragm connecting between said body and handle adjacent said hingemeans, said diaphragm forming one side of a` connecting passageway communicating between the adjacent open ends of the duct and said passageway in the handle and ranged and adapted to lation of the handle for said diaphragm being arbe `distorted upon oscilcontracting and expanding the area of the connecting passageway for i forcing paint therein into said duct upon contraction thereof for causing the paint to pass through the duct and into said body.

CLAUD THOMAS. 

